Periods time with no pain or hassle
How I Got Past The Periods Time Hassle.
Periods time can be a pain! But, good yoga can make painful periods a thing of the past. To show why, here are my period pain stories, and links to sets of poses that help.
Fortunately, within 3 months of starting yoga, the pain, bloating, backache, headaches and irritability that I had always suffered during my menstrual cycle, all but disappeared.
My periods and its effects had been relatively normal, but I still had plenty of painful periods, period symptoms and period cramps. Surveys show this is true for most women.
However, I was not as badly off as some, who had very heavy periods, or the worry of irregular periods.
For me, via yoga, the disappearance of all of the major issues was something I was very happy to see.
So, starting yoga brought me back to feeling human at that time each month!
I still had some mood swings in the premenstrual phase, but nowhere near as extreme as before.
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Me, Chris, demonstrating one of the many poses that are especially useful for women. But, for best results, see my sequences for before, during, and after periods time. Or see more in my other period pain stories of what to do, and not do.
Iyengar yoga has a unique system for handling periods time
My partner, who worked with me in another business, was often quicker than me to detect the onset of PMS symptoms. So, he’d suggest I go and do some yoga!
Like a miracle, the yoga pose always worked to calm me down and soothe my nervous system.
In addition, when I was menstruating, the yoga teacher would suggest that I do some poses differently, as well as add different poses to the practice.
It was really the first time that I had been made aware of the need to act differently when menstruating.
The teacher also explained that during this time my energy is low, and so I should not overexert myself, and further stress my nervous system.
For example, here is an extended set of yoga poses for premenstrual symptoms. There are pictures you can easily follow, so you can do the poses regularly.
I am forever grateful that I joined an Iyengar yoga studio, and became part of a tradition (via Geeta Iyengar) that honours the changes that women go through each month.
I believe taking time to rest, and modify my practice during each ovulation cycle, is what helped me then go through to menopause, with no noticeable menopause symptoms.
The poses I did before, after and during my periods time
When not menstruating, I practised a wide variety of yoga postures, including inversions.
Inversions help stabilise hormonal activity. Moreover, they’re very important for supporting the immune system, and helping one get a good night’s sleep.
So, just before my period, I’d switch to a practice that I knew would help reduce PMT or PMS symptoms.
Then, when my period arrived, I stopped inversions, and stopped jumping out into standing poses. Instead, I’d just step out.
In addition, I did standing poses with props, so I expended less effort. I could also then maintain space in the pelvis. In turn, this helped keep blood circulating in my pelvis.
It also helped keep abdominal cramping, and back pain, at bay.
I also practised supine poses which helped reduce heat in my body. They also allowed me to extend my chest, and bring fresh blood in and around the pelvic area.
In addition, in order to stop me feeling flat or in a low mood, I would always do chest extending poses and supported backbends.
I found seated poses, as well as long, supported forward bends, very beneficial to regulate the bleeding, alleviate abdominal tension, and quieten my mind.
Overall, forward bends are a wonderful family of postures that help relieve tension in the brain, and soothe and quieten your nervous system.
Once my period finished, I would start inversions, and do poses that would help return my body back to balance.
Uttanasana Concave yoga pose. This is an example of using blocks to make a pose more accessible, depending on your flexible, or whether or not you need to do less demanding yoga during periods time.
Managing mood swings & more around periods time
I now know that during the premenstrual phase is a perfect time to stop and step back from the busyness of everyday life.
It will help keep your mood swings under control, and allow you transition easily through the various menstrual cycle phases.
You might think that it’s not possible to slow down. But, the yoga poses in Flametree’s 3 main menstrual sequences really make it possible.
Start and make some small changes in your everyday routine. Ideally, also give yourself “windows” of just sitting and relaxing during the day.
In addition, do your best to eat well, go to bed early at the same time each day.
Respect the changes that take place in your hormonal system each month, and try to become more sensitive to your needs.
Your health and happiness depend on it.
Period suppression with drugs is not the first place I suggest
As a yoga teacher, in one to one private classes, I’ve already seen plenty of students have issues with period suppression via drugs.
Among other things, I’ve seen issues arise when students are wanting to return to their natural fertility cycle, and get pregnant.
Obviously, I’m not against birth control. I used it for years.
I’m just not yet convinced about totally suppressing periods. I’ve also read some of the literature on the issue, and it’s a worry.
My view that it’s first worth trying natural ways to deal with periods time. That’s why I think its better to first use yoga to deal with menstruation issues.
There’s also situations where menstruation can be a medical issue, (such as with especially heavy periods), and in those cases I suggest you contact a doctor.
But in other situations, or even in that situation, try yoga first.
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Yoga saved me from menopause, and stopped my difficult periods.
Many other yoga students have told me similar period pain stories, and how they fixed it with yoga.
Studies have confirmed our experiences.
The earlier in your life you start yoga, and the more you do it regularly, the better it will work.
In my own period pain stories, I’ve said I was 40 when I started. If you can, start earlier than that.
To find convenient class times, follow the links to our Christmas timetable, or the beginner & non-beginner timetables.
Or try our the flexible half price deals at the orange links below.
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If you can’t afford the extra guidance you’ll get at a yoga class, then save our free set of menstruation sequences. Then, do them as regularly as you can.
In addition, here is a post outlining more about the main stages of menstruation. It also links you to further posts about those stages.
These are in 3 blog posts that show and discuss pictures of yoga poses for before, or during, or after a period.
Remember, no flexibility is needed to start yoga. In my own period pain stories, I probably neglected to mention that, when I first started yoga, I was as stiff as a board.
Beginners learn easy poses that are accessible to all sizes and shapes. Try it with the flexible, half price deals at the orange links above.
